Poll: Obama’s approval rating at a three-year high

One of the factors that puts President Obama in an advantageous position regarding the fiscal-cliff negotiations (see HERE) is his fairly strong standing in the polls in these weeks following his election to a second term.

American voters give President Barack Obama a 53 – 40 percent job approval rating – his best score in three years – and by a wider 53 – 36 percent they trust the president and Democrats more than Republicans to avoid the “Fiscal Cliff,” according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Registered voters say 48 – 43 percent that President Obama and Congress will reach agreement on a plan to avoid tax increases and spending cuts set to go into effect at year’s end, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

By a huge 67 – 23 percent margin, voters oppose eliminating the home mortgage interest deduction, but strongly favor, 62 – 28 percent, limiting the deduction to the first $500,000 of mortgage debt. By 56 – 35 percent, voters favor eliminating that deduction for second homes.

Voters 65 – 31 percent support higher taxes on households making more than $250,000 per year, with 84 – 14 percent support from Democrats and 66 – 31 percent support from independent voters. Republicans are opposed 53 – 41 percent.

“Nothing like winning an election to boost your job approval. President Barack Obama hasn’t had a score this good since his 52 – 40 percent approval rating May 5, 2011, right after the death of Osama bin Laden,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“This is only the second time in more than three years that President Obama has broken 50 percent. And voters see Republicans as more likely to be obstructionist, and have less confidence in their ability to come up with the right solution to the nation’s financial woes.”

American voters say 56 – 38 percent that Obama and congressional Democrats will make a good faith effort to cooperate with congressional Republicans on important issues. By 51 – 43 percent, voters say congressional Republicans will not act in good faith.

Voters are optimistic 58 – 38 percent, however, about the next four years with Obama as president and believe 50 – 26 percent that the economy will get better in the next four years.

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Meanwhile, Obama’s job-approval rating is nine percentage points to the good in both the Gallup three-day tracking poll (52-43) and the right-leaning Rasmussen tracking poll (54-45).